Solstice Seasonal Kitchen & Bar is a subtle, modern restaurant in The Boardwalk on Dupont Drive located in the city of Irvine. Plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor with a fireplace outside for those chilly nights and where you can just relax and unwind. It's a very convenient restaurant for the surrounding businesses that would like to grab lunch without having to drive, have meetings or want a drink right after work. I was reviewing some of the dishes a couple of months before our arrival and thought this would be a nice early birthday dinner so I went ahead and reserved the 5pm dinner slot. But now let's get to the food! FOOD Short Ribs Croquettes (Appetizer) These were delightful. Not only cute and presentable but the flavors were delicious, a perfect combination of everything! Especially the aji amarillo aioli. Don't be shy when taking a scoop of the aioli, be sure to give the croquettes a nice drench of it! Highly recommend! Sea Bass Crudo (Appetizer) Presentation may seem a bit flat but I promise you it's packed with flavor! Prepared with citrus ponzu, serrano and garlic chili crunch, the Sea Bass Crudo is definitely refreshing with a bit of a kick! Looking for a shareable seafood type appetizer? Then you should absolutely try this out! Streak Frites This one felt like it would be a nice balanced healthy lunch. Marinated steak with bourbon peppercorn sauce sitting on a bed of fries featuring a nice portion of salad. Had the steak cooked medium and it was just perfect. I wouldn't mind ordering this dish again! Work nearby and want a balance of everything? Then this is the dish for you! Braised Short Rib Probably my favorite one. Meat easily melts in every bite. Paired with those whipped potatoes beneath? Forget it! It may seem like a small dish but it gets filling pretty quick. I think this is another dish I'll be ordering the next time we visit! Peach Butter Cake (Dessert) I seem to have found myself in trouble when taking that first initial bite because I couldn't stop myself indulging its rich flavor! I was already full at this point but this was too damn delicious. It's got the same concept of a pizookie and I'm a sucker for this type of dessert! Love pizookies? Peach jam? Then you should get this! Guarantee you'll have it all to yourself! OVERALL Actually glad we were able to try this place out as I just stumbled upon it a couple months before. Great establishment for dates, small hangouts, big parties or an after work dinner. Spacious interior with comfy seatings and a modern look to the place. Oh and don't forget to get your parking ticket validated! Special thanks to the team and for the GM Chris Teng for checking up on us from time to time to ensure we were enjoying our experience. Definitely will be coming back! read more

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4.5 stars. A nice Sunday brunch option with airy interior and friendly staff. Parking is plentiful on weekends at the parking structure, and they will validate the ticket. We tried the crab cake Benedict, lobster & shrimp roll, and chicken & waffles. All were good but not very memorable in flavor. The drinks menu consists of alcoholic beverages and mocktails. Wish they had a bigger selection of caffeinated drinks for a brunch place. Overall a good choice for brunch with family and friends. read more

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Solstice is fun to enjoy a nice Social Hour and get a small bite and a glass of wine. The Short Rib Croquettes are tasty paired with Sea Sun "by Caymus" Pinot Noir. Dessert Churros Donuts with chocolate and caramel dipping sauces. Nice staff and beautiful open setting facing a business campus garden. Easy parking garage with validation. read more

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We came to Solstice for a Friday night date night. It wasn't crowded at all! The restaurant is pretty big so there's kind of two different indoor seating areas plus an outdoor area, as well as seating around the bar. The main indoor seating area was mostly full but the other areas only had a few people. We asked to sit outside since it was a beautiful day/evening, and they were happy to accommodate us. On the reservation request I had noted that we were celebrating our anniversary, so once we were seated they brought out a little "Happy Anniversary" card signed by the whole staff. It was a very thoughtful touch! We started by ordering a Summer Barrel Aged Cocktail to drink. It reminded me of an Old Fashioned. It was good! I personally tend to like sweeter drinks a bit more, but I was in the mood for something different from my usual and this sounded like an interesting flavor combination, so I was happy with my choice. Next we ordered short rib croquettes as a starter, and the seafood risotto and the branzino as the mains. The food didn't take very long to come out. The short rib croquettes were amazing! It definitely left you wanting more. I honestly would have ordered that as a main, it was that good. The seafood risotto was so rich and flavorful. It had a creamy, buttery texture with a mild seafood flavor but not overpowering. It was a beautiful saffron color too. The branzino was also excellent. In short, we loved all the food and we left feeling very full with even a bit of food leftover. We skipped dessert since we were just too full. Overall, everything about this place was great - good service, great food, and a nice ambiance. The parking situation is also super easy since there's a large garage right next to it and they validate. It seems to be in a business park so the garage was pretty empty by 6pm on a Friday. read more

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We came here to celebrate the wonderful and sweet Mag for her birthday. It was an amazing experience brought by Mr. Brandon. He was fun and very inviting. We all knew we were going to order cocktails, and he went to each of us individually and asked us to describe what we wanted ie. vodka, gin, tequila, strong, fruity etc. and had the bartender craft our cocktails according to our key descriptions. That was fun! For food, I ordered the Watermelon Feta Salad with chicken 10/10! I would order that again. Aside from the drinks, food and excellent service, the atmosphere is super modern and cute. I loved the décor. I am overall happy that Mag picked this place for her birthday lunch. Thank you, Brandon for the excellent service! Would come back again! read more

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What a gem. We had a fantastic time here during happy hour. The staff were super friendly and attentive. The food was really good. We tried almost everything from the happy hour menu. The drinks were also fantastic. Prices for happy hour were competitive. No issues with parking. There is a large parking structure and its validated at the restaurant. Overall atmosphere is modern and slick. Lots of nearby worker seem to come here after work. Pro tip. They give a discount for cash payments. I think it was 3-4%. Will be coming back during non happy hour to try out their risotto. read more

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Solstice is a seasonal restaurant in Irvine with a focus on fresh ingredients. The food was pretty good. Service was okay. The server was nice, but kind of distracted and forgetful. I did like that since we had a birthday in our party, they brought a little treat for us to celebrate. * Seafood Risotto 5/5 - The risotto was perfectly flavored with a creamy and silky texture. The seafood was also delicious. * Short Rib Pappardelle 3/5 - The pappardelle pasta had a nice chewy texture. The sauce was okay, kind of salty. The shredded short ribs were slightly tough/overcooked and not tender. * Sweet Corn Bisque 5/5 - The corn was blended smoothly into a creamy soup. The tortilla strips added some texture to the dish. * Grilled Branzino 4.5/5 - The grilled branzino had very crispy skin. The fish tasted good atop of a unique sauce mixed between mole rojo and Aleppo crema with sprinkles of pomegranate seeds. * Ribeye 4/5 - The ribeye was okay, kinda fatty. We ordered medium and it was medium rare. At least it was tender. The mashed potato was yummy. * Parker House Rolls 4/5 - The bread was soft and fluffy. read more

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Solstice is an exquisite restaurant that serves classic American food within a socially-driven atmosphere; the beautiful ambiance is perfect for a special occasion. For happy hour, there is a variety of familiar simple bites to choose from. We ordered the sliders flight which includes a normal cheeseburger, fried chicken, and pork belly. We also ordered the sea bass crudo which had a tangy, oceanic flavor, highlighting lightness and simplicity. The short rib croquettes were crispy on the outside and warm on the inside. The flavors of each dish did not stand out and were primarily bland, especially the sliders flight. To add, the sauce that was to be paired with the croquettes was extremely cheesy. The taste of the food was uninspiring. When seated in the patio area by the hostess, we were not greeted by any waiter/waitress. For 15 minutes, we were left in a state of confusion. The other servers who were tending to other parties did not even care to see if we were taken care of yet. I had to go inside and self-initiate a conversation with someone at the station to get our order moving along. read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Food -100+ Service -100+ Ambiance - 100+ Loved everything about this gem of a restaurant. Lots of parking & they valid your parking. Beautifully decorated. read more

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A great dining experience with even better service! despite some issues, the service was top notch! What's nice is everything is shareable, great to come with a big group! 1. Cocktails are super good! And they don't skimp on the alcohol. Went with the French 75, ever unique with the ginger pear! 2. The puff bread is a must! It's so fluffy and the thyme butter is delicious! 3. The mussels were good as well! They used a unique curry lobster sauce and it was delicious! My only complaint was that the bread was burnt/charred and very hard. They brought out new bread for us, it was softer but tasted a little stale. 4. They were out of the Branzino and the sea bass crudo (2 items we wanted to try). But went with the chicken. Super juicy and the aji sauce was pretty good. It came with quinoa as well. I usually never order chicken at an upscale restaurant but since they were out of the items I wanted to try I went with it. Not something I would order again to be honest, but it was definitely good. 5. The seafood risotto is a must! Amazing and one of the best I've had! Came with blue crab, shrimp, and lobster! 6. Went with the peach butter cake for dessert. Good flavor! But the butter cake itself was not as soft/moist as I hoped. Mastros butter cake has set the bar, and I am always comparing butter cakes to Mastros. But definitely worth a try! Overall, really enjoyed the dinner, even with some bumps, waitress was super accommodating and checked on us often! read more

Definitely in my top 3 brunch places in OC! This is a restaurant that changes their menu seasonally - their food is DELICIOUS, EXCEPTIONAL, EXQUISITE, ALL THE THINGS. This is a place where you bond with complete strangers over the flavor. When I ate their Parker house rolls, I looked over at the table next to me as they waited to see my reaction - we looked at each other nearly teary eyed. Love the menu because in addition to the flavor, they have unique items you can't get anywhere else...our waitress is a sauce girly like me and gave us some baked potato aioli for our French fries....I MEAN?!? Enough said on the food... Bonuses are the location is lovely and service was great. Parking Advice and PSA: Enter the garage from Dupont - if you enter from Teller and don't have monthly access, you will suffer from backing out of the long entrance onto a busy 2-way street. Solstice....you guys are killing it! Wish you continued success. I will be back many many many times. read more

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I came here during the week for their social hour. I sat at the lower table connected to the bar. Our waiter (Sebastian) was fantastic. Checked on us multiple times in addition to letting us know additional specials not listed on the menu and checking on us before social hour ended. We got the short rib croquettes and the slider flight. All were excellent tasting. The short rib was tender and the potatoes were well seasoned. The burger was my favorite sandwich on the flight. It was tender and juicy and very flavorful. The pork belly sandwich was also nice. The Nashville hot chicken has a kick to it in case you like a bit of spice. The pricing was very reasonable as the flight was only $13. The food was so tasty that I will definitely be back for the social hour but I also want to try their usual menu as well. Parking is in a lot connected to the building. You'll need to grab the ticket to enter the structure but the restaurant validates parking. read more

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Came here for brunch. The place has an upscale vibe and the staff is very nice. There is a lot to park in and the restaurant validates. We got the cranberry sage mimosa and pear ginger mimosa to drink. For a starter, we got the house made biscuits. Our entrees were the pblt, crab cake benedict, and lobster roll. Cranberry Sage Mimosa- This is sweet and fruity, carried by the cranberry sage syrup. A touch of lime gives it an extra burst of citrus. Pear Ginger Mimosa- This is a sweet and spicy drink with a strong pear flavor and a little zing of ginger. Quite refreshing! House Made Biscuits- The biscuits are hot and fluffy with a nice crusty top. Served with thyme butter and sweet honey spread. PBLT- This sandwich has a pork belly base that is savory and meaty. A bit of tomato jam gives it a nice contrast and honey bacon aioli adds a little sweetness. Crab Cake Benedict- The crab cake is fresh and poached eggs add extra bulk with each bite. The hollandaise sauce ties the flavors together. Served with a side of green salad. Lobster Roll- Fresh lobster pieces tossed in a cold mayo dressing. Served on a buttery bun with a side of crispy fries. Tasty! Great experience overall! read more

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This place has so much potential but seems poorly run. Sat at the bar on a Saturday evening for happy hour and literally there were maybe 2-4 other people at the bar. What seemed like the manager had his computer station set up at the bar and kept kind of just wandering around the restaurant to check on his staff just to show he was watching but the interaction with his staff felt super un engaging and unhelpful. My friend and I sat for quite some time at the bar before one of the bartenders came over and asked us if we had ordered yet and filled our waters. We finally got our drink order in and a salad to start. Had to finally flag down a bartender to see if we could get the rest of our happy hour food order in so we get that in. Literally sat with an empty cocktail which felt like for awhile before the other bartender came by to say last call for happy hour. Umm ya if you had paid attention to the patrons around you at the bar, I had my hand up to try and flag down a bartender because I wanted to order before I finished my last drink. The slider trio, salad and fries were great. The happy hour whiskey mixed cocktail was fine but I wouldn't order it again so switched to tequila soda. They validate parking so that part was great. But overall, the hospitality and warmth was lacking from the servers and it didn't seem like many of them were happy to be there on a holiday weekend working. I also don't remember any of the bartenders names because not one of them introduced themselves. It did get busier throughout the evening but seeing the restaurant is located in a business park, apparently the peak time that people come to this restaurant is M-F during lunch hours. Maybe I'll have to give it a try again then. read more

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Beautiful establishment with excellent service. Parking is validated so make sure to bring your parking ticket. Came for a company event and we had appetizers, main, and drinks. The appetizers were pretty good, particularly the coconut shrimp and beef sliders, along with croquette. The Nashville chicken sliders were kind of dry, however, and the lobster slider left more to be desired. The short rib for main was also a little overcooked. read more

Ordered: - 2x slider flight (5/5): We were both shocked by how well each slider was executed. While our favorite one was the beef slider for the classic burger vibe we were both very surprised by how crispy, meaty, yet easy to chew the pork belly slider was. The sauce and veggies kept the pork slider from being too heavy. As for the chicken slider we really liked the fry on it and how juicy it was but felt that it was too salty. - Sea Bass Crudo (5/5): Quite possibly one of the best crudos I have ever had and my favorite dish of the night. The sea bass was super meaty and fresh and the sauce gave it a very unique twist. Normally we only have refreshing light crudos but this one was a lot oilier and heavier with the chili crisp and serrano peppers. My gf found the dish too spicy but it was just right for me. - Spicy Tuna Tartare (4/5): Super refreshing and loved the chip pairing. I would have personally preferred more tuna and less avocado but I was still pretty happy with it. - Rye Punch (5/5) - Strawberry Yuzu Butter Cake (4.5/5): We were shocked by how big this dessert was especially since we were already pretty full - it looked like a challenge to finish even though we were sharing it. Really loved the light flavors and the fact that it wasn't too sweet for us. Only thing that could be better is that we couldn't really taste the yuzu. Overall (5/5): Very happy that we decided to check out the seasonal menu at Solstice! Service was great and restaurant was pretty quiet since we were there early. I personally love the decor of the place too. Given the quality and care put to each dish served we hope to be back soon! read more

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Came here for the second time and tried out their spring menu. We got the sea bass crudo ($20), chicken and waffles ($28), steak and eggs ($29), and the strawberry yuzu French toast ($20) . We wanted to try the lobster and shrimp roll, but they ran out. The sea bass crudo had a great flavor (citrus ponzu and chili garlic crunch), and most of the pieces were tender. My fave entree was the steak and eggs. There was a generous portion of fluffy eggs, and the steak was soft and moist when cooked medium rare. My second favorite was the seasonal French toast. I normally don't like French toast, but this texture was soft and not too soggy, and you can taste all the butter. The fresh strawberries made the French toast look so pretty. The chicken and waffles were just ok. The apricot jam was a nice seasonal touch, and the skin was pretty crispy, but the chicken itself was kind of dry and flavorless on its own. read more

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I was in the area for a conference and stopped in for dinner before I checked into my hotel. I sat at the bar and ordered a Smokey the pear drink, short rib croquettes and the solstice burger. Everything was great! I enjoyed my time and plan to return whenever I am in Irvine! Parked in the structure and received validation from the bartender. read more

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Wow and Yum!! Once you find the correct parking structure entrance you are good to go! The service is exquisite! Genial, coordinated and personable. Food is to die for delicious!! We started with the corn bisque and watermelon feta salad. Correction; we started with a cocktail-the best mixed paper plane I have ever sipped! Our entrees were the seasonal salmon and seafood risotto. Both beautifully prepared and a delight to eat! We finished our evening off with the peach butter cake. Peachy, not too sweet and melt in your mouth delicious! We will be back with friends!! read more

We tried social hour here (happy hour). Place is nice and bar area for social hour that is around 4-6pm weekdays. So bar area we went. Some social hour food are burger, pork and chicken sliders. All good and service was fairly quick. Good way to end workday! They also have drink social hour specials. Overall good and must try. Parking is validated and parking is in nearby parking structure. read more

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Not a large variety of options on the menu so we decided to go somewhere else for dinner but their bread and drinks were very yummy! We had the house rolls which were DELICIOUS with the butter and their lavender lemon drop was the perfect blend of alcohol and sweetness. We went to celebrate a friends birthday and they gave him a card where the staff signed off on it and I thought that was really special. Would have loved a little dessert but that's probably because we didn't order an entree lol. Parking structure is right next to the restaurant and very convenient. They validate! read more

Solstice - Lavender lemon drop, house rolls which - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Great for happy hour. Pricing is good. Flavor and quality are great. Ambiance not so fun. Service is not good. Have noticed some employees bothered by special requests . Wait times at host stand take too long for an empty restaurant. Slider trio, fries, croquettes ... too good!! Parking validation. Wish the vibes were better. Mostly people coming from the offices. Seems like it may be more of a weekday lunch spot.. convenient location just off jamboree. I've seen several events there, possibly meetups or team outings, sometimes they have a bartender working their group only in a separate space, which is a great option for a host. read more

This restaurant is in a commercial complex - it's a cute little restaurant off to the side with a nice ambiance (perfect for Valentine's coming up!). I got the salmon entree & we shared the poke appetizer - it was delish! Service was great - we sat outside, they have heaters to keep you warm in the winter and they validate your parking after. read more

Solstice - Salmon Entree - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for social hour. Available Mondays to Fridays 3-6pm and Saturdays 4-6. As normal/ usual, their social/ happy hour selection wasn't a lot, but I have to say that every item we tried was good! We got the social hour burger sliders and the pork belly sliders (both come in two). They were really good! We also had the crudo winter which we also enjoyed! And had the social hour cab, Josh reserve, to wash them down. Ambiance is nice too. Nicely decorated but didn't feel as cozy, but still nice! Service at the bar was good as well. We enjoyed the social hour and will most likely come back for social hour again. read more

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All of the food and drinks were sooo good. Our waiter Brandon gave excellent service and great recommendations on appetizers and drinks. 100% would come again and super excited to try their next seasonal items. read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Stopped by for lunch today and had a lovely time! Parking is in the structure next to the restaurant, and they do validate. The restaurant is very open and modern which I really liked. Service was great across the board, everyone was welcoming and attentive, and I never felt like I had to chase staff down for anything. I ordered the carne asada salad which was very tasty. The presentation was interesting as they serve the romaine whole, but the flavors were great and the steak was well made. My wife got the burger which she loved (I had a bite and was very pleased with it too). I definitely want to come back and try their other items for brunch, along with their cocktails. I think this is a solid choice for a lunch spot and would recommend it if you're in the area. read more

Solstice - Carne Asada Salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for lunch yesterday. Originally I made a reservation for the patio, but upon arrival I felt like it was a bit underwhelming and so we decided to sit inside. The restaurant is nice and has a clean and airy feel to it. The service was great and the food was just okay. I had been wanting to come here for such a long time, so it was a bit of a letdown. The Parker House rolls were very good and ended up being the best thing we ate. My Greens and Grains Salad was good, and my sister's mussels Rockefeller were tasty but not amazing. read more

Solstice - Greens and Grains Salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Stopped in for Sunday brunch and had a great time. We ordered the Solstice salad with poached salmon on the side and a build-your-own omelet; everything tasted light and fresh. Tried two cocktails, the Granada margarita and the Midnight Mezcal, and both were well balanced and easy to enjoy. One of my favorite things here is the rotating seasonal menu, it's always fun to see what new dishes they're rolling out. Service was friendly and attentive as always which just seals the deal. Don't forget to validate parking ticket read more

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To start off....if you're using Google maps to get here, it will take you to the entrance of the parking garage that's only for monthly entry. You can enter, but you will need a ticket to get out - so drive around the corner and enter the parking garage that way instead. Parking is validated - so remember to bring your ticket inside. Food: -Parker House Rolls - These were good, fresh hot bread and the butter was to die for. -Salmon Crudo - This was good, the chilis from the chili oil can get stuck in your throat and be a little unpleasant, but -Pear Caprese Salad - This was really nice, not too overpowering and great flavors -Malbec Braised Short Rib - Pretty for photos because of the smoke + dome, but wasn't really impressive. It was underseasoned so not really as flavorful as I'd had hope - kind of tasteless. -Apple Butter Cake - The apples on this were way too sweet and completely overpowered the dish. The cake was fine, and the ice cream somehow helped cut the sweetness of the apples, but it was not the best dish. Overall, the food started out super strong and seemed to dull out by the end. When the check came, there was a cash price and a credit card price. In really small text on the menu, there's some text about dual pricing for cash/credit, but it's not really fleshed out on what you should expect. read more

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Came here for a party and was genuinely impressed with the entire experience. Parking was easy since there's a parking structure, and the restaurant validates parking, which is always a nice bonus. The service was excellent from start to finish, and the ambiance was open, upscale, welcoming, and perfect for both special occasions and group gatherings. Food-wise, everything we tried was fantastic. My favorite dish was the Braised Short Rib Pappardelle, which was rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The Parker House Rolls were also a standout, and all of the appetizers we ordered were great as well. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of most of the appetizers because we dug right in, but I did manage to get a picture of dessert. Overall, the food, service, and atmosphere all exceeded expectations. I'd definitely come back and would recommend Solstice for a date night, celebration, or any special occasion. read more

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This review is about 2 months late but I wanted to post it anyway. We went to Solstice for brunch for my son's birthday and it was great. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and all the food was visually beautiful. Our favorites were the butternut squash hummus, the brunch burger, lobster roll and my kids really enjoyed the chicken and waffles. We ordered a few mocktails which were also delicious and inventive. I really wanted to give this place 5 stars because of the food we enjoyed and the gorgeous decor. I had to take 1 star off because there were a couple of items that I felt just missed the mark. The poached pear salad, while beautifully presented, lacked tanginess to balance the sweetness and just tasted a bit flat. I had the same opinion about the tuna tartare- I love tuna tartar but this one was just ok- nothing special or memorable about it. The presentation of that dish was also a bit blah. The restaurant itself is beautiful, bright and clean. It was a beautiful day so we didn't want to waste it and decided to eat out on the patio - after 10 minutes we wished they'd had some type of sunshade so we could really enjoy our meal with the fresh air. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here but it's not at the top of my list as a revisit :( read more

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Brandon and Taylor C. are absolutely amazing. The food was perfect. A perfect space for date night or out with the family. The service was top notch and after going multiple times, they have always been on top of their game. The food is so fresh and full bar has awesome specialty drinks. Will keep coming back here. read more

Always a great time at Solstice, whether it's for dinner or brunch. Highly recommend the parker rolls and the short rib croquettes - I always get them every time I go! Service is good and it really is a beautiful restaurant for a date night or girl's night out. Will come back again soon! read more

Solstice - Seafood risotto - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Solstice is a treasure tucked away in a courtyard. This is my second visit of many to come. The first time I had the seafood risotto which was epic. This visit I got the Branzino, which was extraordinary with an elegant flash of complex mole that put it over the top. Beyond the food (already a stretch) the dedicated and attentive staff stands out. Multiple times I heard supportive check-ins with each other as they passed. My server Kassidy appeared just before I thought to need anything, was fully present to the interaction then whisked away to make it happen. All the staff seems to move at 4x speed as they skillfully execute. At the end the Asst GM Gabriel graciously stopped by to check in as well, efficient but unhurried. Overall the restaurant was buzzing, but not loud or crowded. Great, positive, customer experience focused vibe in an elegant but in-fussy atmosphere. I will be back many times to come. read more

Solstice - Branzino with mole - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Showed up at opening on Mothers Day and apparently if you don't have a reservation u can't be accommodated. There were maybe 3 tables taken up and they said to my face they don't have a waitlist. Walk away, gave them a call and they said they have a waitlist... crazy work lying to my face. Pretty sure u can accommodate a small party that's literally right there when u have open seats and ur reservations aren't even showing up. Food has been great in the past but respectfully, front staff handled that poorly. Good riddance read more

I recently dined here with my manager and team member for happy hour but then it turned into dinner and dessert! (Thank you boss!!) This place is nestled within a couple of work buildings and they will validate your parking ticket. At the evening time, it's quite beautiful setting and ambiance. The place is super clean, I love the open space concept and the decor. I love the open kitchen in the back because we sat near the kitchen so wow, smells delicious! The customer service is excellent in my opinion. Our server gave good recommendations on what's hot on the menu (ie seasonal dishes to consider), wine selections, and desserts. She periodically will check in on us and ensure our water was always refilled. 10/10 Here's what we ordered to try: Butternut Squash Hummus with pickled pears and grilled bread- The butternut squash was delicious! Silky and smooth, and dip that with the bread has a nice balance. I do wish the grilled bread wasn't so dry. Short ribs croquettes with aji Amarillo aioli- Loved the outside crunch and then you bite into the center all soft. Good contrast. Pan seared salmon with small diced root veggies, Brussels sprouts, and cider emulsion- Yum! Salmon was well-cooked (my request), the root veggies were a nice balance crunch to the soft salmon. My favorite was the cider emulsion sauce! That tiny bit of sweet and sour sauce surprisingly goes well with the entire plate. Seared sea scallops with mushroom risotto and red wine syrup- Big four scallops (better be big for the price you're paying!) were delicious. Well sauced and soft. Grilled branzino with mole rojo and pomegranate-huge branzino but tasty. We like it with the pomegranate. That little crunch of sweetness really balances out the savory branzino. Apple butter cake-Loved that they make it fresh after you ordered! Small size which is just night for the three of us to share. Loved the crunchy outside and smooth on the inside. The apple compote with the vanilla bean is just heavily. You get the crunch, the warmth, and the cold all together. Overall a fantastic dining experience. We hope to come back again and try other dishes on the menu. read more

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Such a wonderful place to celebrate a birthday! The staff go above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable. The ambiance and food were excellent as well. SERVICE (10/10): Service was absolutely excellent from start to finish. The hostess, our server Arian, and all support staff were amazing. For my birthday, I was presented with a birthday card to start with everyone's signatures, and also received a complimentary birthday dessert. Our server, Arian, was so attentive, friendly, and gave great suggestions. He made sure to check on us frequently and saw if there was anything we needed. Also, he gave great recommendations, we loved our food choices! FOOD (10/10): Appetizers: Short Rib Croquettes (aji amarillo aioli, pickled red onion) (10/10)- this dish was absolute perfection. Loved the presentation with the wood board, the short rib was tender and flavorful, aioli paired perfectly, croquette was crispy, but easy to cut through. Don't pass on this dish! Salmon Crudo (citrus ponzu, garlic chili crunch, serrano peppers) (10/10)- tied for my favorite, this was a light and fresh dish that had a slightly spicy kick. Great to share. The fish was super fresh. Spicy Tuna Tartare (scallion tonnato, pickled pears, Calabrian chili, tortilla strips) (8/10)- a great dish, just not what I expected with a spicy tuna tartare. I'm used this this fish coming out with red style tuna, more like a spicy tuna sushi roll, but it came out with white fish tuna. More tuna salad ish, but still tasty. Entrees: Seared Sea Scallops (mushroom risotto, red wine syrup, spinach, walnut picada) (10/10)- the scallops were cooked to perfection, and the walnut picada was so unique and a great addition, but not overpowering. The risotto was so tasty, it was great to have this side since I was struggling to choose between this dish and seafood risotto. Malbec Braised Short Rib (whipped potatoes, sautéed spinach & kale, basil persillade) (10/10)- I had short rib for an appetizer, and so glad we ordered the entree as we'll because it was so delicious. The presentation was awesome, with a smoky lid uncovering. Very tender, juicy, and flavorful. The whipped potatoes were a great side that balanced the meat well. Desserts: Sticky Toffee Carrot Cake (orange whipped ricotta, carrot purée, bourbon toffee sauce) (10/10)- holy moly, this has to be the best carrot cake I've ever had! It was sweet, but had a hint of saltiness, and oh my gosh that carrot puree to dip was so good. Flourless Brown Butter Fudge Cake (mocha custard, cocoa nibs, seasonal sorbet) (9/10)- a very tasty chocolate dessert, I got chocolate mousse vibes. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the fruit, but that's just a personal preference. Sorbet was very fresh. Drinks were all fantastic as well! I will definitely be back, birthday and beyond. Excellent service, food, and ambiance, you can't go wrong! Tip: the happy hour looked pretty happening! Also, parking is validated. read more

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Excellent dinner here last night. Great food and service. Started with a mocktail Cranberry Spritz and a house roll. Both were delicious. The mocktail wasn't too sweet. The bread was soft, moist and buttery. I could eat 5 of these lol. My friend and I split the Solstice salad. I thought it was just so so. I should have gotten the pear salad. The Solstice lacked flavor and the dressing was too bland for me. The main entree I got was the Malbec Braised Short Ribs. Super fire! On point. Delicious, tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. The mashed potatoes and spinach went perfectly with it. The house fries with their dipping sauces was also delicious. Crispy and fresh. The wine list is average. Their by the glass is enough for what you need! Didn't look at their main list. Desserts were also amazing. No complaints. Those doughnuts omg. I could eat 20 of them. The Flourless chocolate cake was also delicious with the sorbet. Service was perfect. Maria was our server. She was super polite and friendly. We kind of stayed too late past closing. They didn't ask us to leave which would have been fine if they did. I used to serve at a high end restaurant in Costa Mesa. I hated when douche guests would stay an hour past closing omg. But we appreciated they let us hang out for a bit to talk since we rarely see each other. Great place to eat and dine. Very classy and clean crisp vibe. Highly recommend dining here! Will definitely be back! read more

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Food Got the salmon and it was delicious! The price is not bad for what you get. My friend and I also got some bread rolls. Was a little disappointed as they tasted like plain white bread, but the butter that it came with helped! Service The service was amazing! All employees were friendly and were the first to initiate parking validation. They also provided 2 treats for the birthday girl :) Ambience The place has plenty of seating that is spaced out to give each group a more private experiences. Great for both small and bigger parties! read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here for a work event last night and I was pleasantly surprised by the food and drinks, having never heard of this restaurant before. We had a selection of food and they were a hit with our whole party. I really enjoyed the sliders and potato croquette. I also had a really nice French 75. Service was good too. read more